October 2015 – Page 2

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Announcement: Silverfall, by Raven de Hart

October 28, 2015 by scott

QSFer Raven de Hart has a new Urban Fantasy book out: The city hides a lot of secrets. Sometimes, those secrets break free. Unicorns can’t be real. That’s what Anthony Gates always thought. At least until he saw one murder a man. Now there’s a myth stalking him through the streets of San Francisco. And right when he’s starting in on a very passionate—and promising—relationship. Leon Phillips is a security guard with a secret. A dangerous secret. One he can’t even share with his new flame, Anthony. But when the mysterious Lionshead organization rears up, he’s left with only two … Read more

DO IT YOURSELF WEEK: Day Two – Editing and Production; ISBNs; eBooks or Paper?

October 28, 2015 by scott

Welcome to the first annual DIY week at QSF. We’ve got a great line-up of topics for the week, some of which are moderated – but in general, we’ll just share information about how to start and manage a small press: Wednesday: Editing and Production; ISBNs; eBooks or Paper? Thursday: Getting Your Books Out There; Amazon; Other Venues Friday: Promoting Your Work Saturday: Mistakes to Avoid, Mistakes to Make, Keeping Up Your Morale; Sunday: Taxes and Royalties Also, we have a special event – an interview with Matt Buscemi, owner of Fuzzy Hedgehog Press, at 1 PM Pacific. Matt will … Read more

Announcement: Reawakening, by Amy Rae Durreson

October 27, 2015 by scott

DSP Publications author Amy Rae Durreson has a new fantasy book out: For a thousand years, since their defeat of the Shadow at Eyr, the dragons have slept under the mountains. Now their king, Tarnamell, has woken. Driven mad by loneliness, he hurls himself south until he finds and tries to claim the Alagard Desert. Unfortunately, the desert already has a guardian spirit, and he doesn’t want to share. Amused by the cocky little desert spirit, Tarn retreats, planning to return in human form. When his caravan enters the desert, however, Alagard is missing. Rumors fly of a dark power, … Read more

DO IT YOURSELF WEEK: Day One – Starting Your Own Press/Crowdfunding

October 27, 2015 by scott

Welcome to the first annual DIY week at QSF. We’ve got a great line-up of topics for the week, some of which are moderated – but in general, we’ll just share information about how to start and manage a small press: Tuesday: Starting Your Own Press/Crowdfunding Wednesday: Editing and Production; ISBNs; eBooks or Paper? Thursday: Getting Your Books Out There; Amazon; Other Venues Friday: Promoting Your Work Saturday: Mistakes to Avoid, Mistakes to Make, Keeping Up Your Morale; Sunday: Taxes and Royalties Also, we have a special event – an interview with Matt Buscemi, owner of Fuzzy Hedgehog Press, at … Read more

Announcement: Chrysalis Corporation, by T.A. Venedicktov

October 26, 2015 by scott

QSFer T.A. Venedicktov has a new sci fi book coming out on 11/17: Together, they can change the rules of the galaxy and the definition of humanity. When Damion Hawk is offered an opportunity to escape the destitute life of a miner on Mars and become an elite Alpha Fighter pilot, he jumps at the chance. Within the Chrysalis Corporation, Damion must learn to work with his Core—a man with computerized implants, no human emotions—and no rights. But unlike other Fighters, Damion can’t treat Core 47 as a tool. He sees 47 as more than a machine, and he’ll take … Read more

Announcement: Books, Bulls and Bacchanals, by Angel Martinez

October 25, 2015 by scott

QSFer Angel Martinez has a new urban fantasy book out: A party god and a reclusive librarian – the last people anyone would pick to solve a murder. Everyone assumes life’s one big party for Dionysus, but even the god of wine and orgies has problems. His anger management issues are out of control, and his siblings suggest a visit to the Eternal Library to find a cure. The library of the gods is a strange and confounding place, though, one that Dionysus has avoided for centuries, and his certainty that the library hates him is confirmed when a killer … Read more

Discussion: Food in the Future

October 25, 2015 by scott

OK, it’s time to pull out your trusty old crystal ball – you know, the one you use for seeing what life will be like in the near and distant future. Like almost everything else, food has undergone a revolution in this country. Feeding billions takes a lot of time and energy and resources and ingenuity, and there’s no doubt that some of the “advances” have been necessary and welcome. OTOH, you have genetically engineered crops owned by huge companies that sue when their seeds are spread by the winds to adjoining farms. You have the rise and fall of … Read more

Cover Reveal: Mike Hawk and the Cult of Kings, by Kirby Quinlan

October 24, 2015 by scott

QSFer Kirby Quinlan has a new time travel story coming out, and we’ve got the cover reveal! Present Day: Michaelangelo Hawk, III works in an elite task force for an international organization dedicated to defending LGBTQ people throughout the world. When passengers on a gay-themed cruise ship are taken prisoner by a terrorist organization during an excursion to the pyramids at Giza, Mike’s team is called in to rescue them. During an intense firefight in the necropolis, Mike is forced to jump into a golden sarcophagus to escape a grenade blast. When he emerges, however, he discovers he’s been mysteriously … Read more

Reading Hard Sci Fi

October 24, 2015 by scott

Today’s topic comes from QSFer Alicia Nordwell: Reader question: Does a greater understanding of hard science increase or lessen your enjoyment of science fiction stories? It’s a great question – I love science and hard sci fi. So I do find that when I read an LGBT story that has just a gloss of science fiction, or gets the science dead wrong, it does greatly lessen my enjoyment of the story. So how about y’all?